FAQ

Q: Why should I choose this Stream over the others?

A: Our stream deals with nucleic acid biochemistry more so than any other stream. The techniques you learn in the Aptamer Stream are skill sets that can be applied to many of the molecular and biochemical labs on campus. Check out this video about why these students selected the Aptamer Stream.

Q: When do we get to choose our own targets?

A: You can begin thinking about new targets at anytime. Typically you will have the opportunity to write a proposal outlining why you think the target is a good one during the summer months. Once approved, we will order the target during the fall after you are proficient with the methods and technology. The targets you start with are pennies per round. The targets you will likely choose are upwards of $40/round.

Q: What kinds of things does this Stream do?

A: We mostly dabble in molecular biology and biochemistry. Specifically, we concentrate on DNA/RNA techniques such as polymerase chain reaction, transcription, gel electrophoresis and other methods to develop nucleic acid binding species against different targets using in vitro selection (SELEX) technologies.

Q: I still like research. What can I do now that the stream is over?

A: Please refer to the FRI website "Beyond the the Freshman Lab." In addition to external options and mentoring, you may take an addition semester of CH369L or BIO377 for class credit and pass/fail to count towards elective hours. Please see your departmental advising office.

Q: How is the FRI different from the labs it replaces?

A: In traditional educational experiences, there is a distinct wall between work performed in the professor’s lab and knowledge taught in the classroom or lab. In addition, the results of the labs are known. In the FRI, the professor is directly involved in the educational experience. Others lab members such as post-docs, graduate students, and undergraduate mentors are all involved in some aspect of the research and educating process. In addition, the lab experiments have no known results (thus considered research).